Coast Guard bans double-berthing of watercraft in Pasig River

File: Memorandum Circular (MC) 12-19 dated December 9 and signed by PCG Commandant Adm. Joel Garcia, repealed a specific section of PCG MC No. 05–07 which allowed “double-berthing,” or the placing of two vessels side-by-side in fixed positions along a riverbank in Pasig River. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has prohibited the double-berthing of barges and other watercraft along Pasig River as part of the government’s efforts to clean up the river and promote ferry service as a mode of public transportation.

Memorandum Circular (MC) 12-19 dated December 9 and signed by PCG Commandant Adm. Joel Garcia, repealed a specific section of PCG MC No. 05–07 which allowed “double-berthing,” or the placing of two vessels side-by-side in fixed positions along a riverbank in Pasig River.

In a Facebook post, the PCG said barges and other seacrafts double berthing will be towed three days after the official issuance of the MC No. 12-19.

“Non-compliance will result in the towing of involved seacrafts,” the post read.

MC No. 05 – 07, according to the new memorandum, was withdrawn as it was contrary to the provisions of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) MC No. 15 – 99 which only allowed single-berthing along Pasig River.

Section 3.1.1 of PPA MC No. 15–99 states that only single berthing of loaded barges/watercrafts parallel to the river bank shall be allowed at both government berths and private ports of Pasig River.

The signing of the new memorandum, the PCG said, took place during the Pasig River Rehabilitation meeting at the Manila City Hall attended by officials from both the national and local government levels.

Present during the meeting were Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, and other officials from the attached agencies of the DOTr.

On Monday, the Pasig River Ferry Service (PRFS) was relaunched as a viable alternative mode of public transport in Metro Manila through increased support from the national and local governments.

On Sunday, the DOTr launched the Cavite-Manila Ferry Service (CMFS) as part of the department’s “basket of solutions” to help solve the issue of vehicular congestion in Metro Manila.

Both the PRFS and CMFS are free until the end of January 2020.